This matchup is especially intriguing given the Yankees, already in the playoffs, can stick it to their rival by fielding a team of total scrubs and losing the game. As of 10a, the Yankees' starter hadn't even been named. Given the Red Sox was leading the entire AL on September 1 (with a nine-game lead on the Rays), but proceeded to go 7-19 down the stretch, this would be pretty devastating. I expect the Red Sox to pull it out, and Boston fans to lord this over everyone not from their "Nation."

I said this before, but if we had won just 2 more games a month in the months before August, we would have been right in it. Just a couple extra hits with risp, getting that last out that one inning instead of giving up the 2-run single. Of course we would be calling for Hawksworth's head after last night's season-ruining choke, but still

OK, I normally only read posts, but I did something OK that I haven't seen around. Using Bodog.com's odds (I averaged both team's odds to get a consistent number--i.e., Bos-200/Bal+180=Bos-190): Bos-190, Atl-170, TBR-235, STl -190, this makes the following outcomes (before the games started, of course):

If I may nerdily interject, based on the previous odds I posted, the current winners (BOS-ATL-NYY-STL) were the 5th (of 16) most likely outcome. Tampa Bay was the heaviest favorite, which in retrospect seems a little crazy, facing the Yankees and all.

So, BAL-PHI-TBR-STL winning came out to a 16-1 shot... which straight odds would've predicted (there being 16 possible outcomes for all the games)!

I wagered (imaginary dollars, uh huh) on the Red Sox, Phillies, Cardinals, and Yankees to reverse jinx all the teams of my choosing, and dang, I should've gotten 'em all. But I still got awesome baseball!